One rodent too many

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Meghan - 23 Jun 2005 15:23 GMT

We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests" sneaking in,
like mice, lizards etc. As a result I have this recurring nightmare that I
wake up, look in the rat cage, and there are more rats than there should be,
or other species in with the rats (once it was an octopus!)

So last night I'm bringing the rats in from their play time, and I notice my
cat has a little field mouse in his mouth, which he drops and the poor thing
runs for his life. I SHOVED the ratties back in their cage, lock them up
safely, and set out to free the poor mouse.

My sweet little indoor cat turned into a killing machine and it was all my
husband and I could do to get him away from the mouse. Just then the mouse
squeezed himself into our fireplace grate and hid under the fireplace. Long
story short for the next hour we tore apart the grate, vents, chased the
mouse up and down stairs, moved all the furniture in our kitchen, emptied
out our entire front closet, and FINALLY through a series of barricades and
prodding got the poor little (cute) mouse to run out our front door. There
HAS to be a cartoon or sitcom in that one.

I kept thinking what the rats would do if they encountered the mouse during
their out time. I don't think I want to know! It just scares me what kind
of diseases it might be carrying, and who knows what my guys could catch
from it. EEEK. Today we are sealing up holes in the basement!

Meghan

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Igenlode - 23 Jun 2005 18:32 GMT

> We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests" sneaking in,
> like mice, lizards etc. As a result I have this recurring nightmare that I
> wake up, look in the rat cage, and there are more rats than there should be,
> or other species in with the rats (once it was an octopus!)

I've certainly had dreams where I've been chasing escaped rats and
discovered that all were present and correct and what I've actually
caught is a wild one :-)

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Igenlode Visit the Ivory Tower http://curry.250x.com/Tower/

** One good hope is worth a cartload of certainties **

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axemanchris - 24 Jun 2005 12:17 GMT

> > We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests" sneaking in,
> > like mice, lizards etc. As a result I have this recurring nightmare that I
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ** One good hope is worth a cartload of certainties **

Sort of like the stories (urban myths I'm sure!) of people adopting a "dog"
while on a holiday in a warm climate, only to have a customs official inform
them their beloved new pet is a giant sewer rat when it is discovered in
their luggage.

Jacqui

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Joanne - 24 Jun 2005 12:59 GMT

>> > We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests"
>> > sneaking
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Jacqui

Aren't those called chihuahuas? lol

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Joanne
Mom to 13 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

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Phil L - 24 Jun 2005 00:45 GMT

<snip>

:: I kept thinking what the rats would do if they encountered the
:: mouse during their out time.

They would kill it and eat it, rats hunt for mice naturally.

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If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs.

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Kate - 24 Jun 2005 02:46 GMT

> We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests" sneaking in,
> like mice, lizards etc. As a result I have this recurring nightmare that I
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Meghan

There was a Family Movie called "Mousehunt" about just the same thing
happening. In the end the house was totally ruined and the Mouse won
the day. It really was hilarious..:)) I am glad though, you set the
wee fella free..:)

Kind regards Kate

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Joanne - 24 Jun 2005 02:53 GMT

> We live in a rural area and sometimes we get "uninvited guests" sneaking
> in,
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
> Meghan

What an adventure!! I do believe your rats would have hurt that little fella
if given the chance.

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Joanne
Mom to 13 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

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Mark Thompson - 24 Jun 2005 20:39 GMT

> Long story short for the next hour we tore apart the
> grate, vents, chased the mouse up and down stairs, moved all the
> furniture in our kitchen, emptied out our entire front closet, and
> FINALLY through a series of barricades and prodding got the poor
> little (cute) mouse to run out our front door. There HAS to be a
> cartoon or sitcom in that one.

lol. Took me 2 hours of destroying my living room, but after a small
moment of genius I had the little blighter caught in 30 seconds.

For anyone that finds themselves in the same boat here's the solution:

Take 1 shoebox, cut hole in corner and place on escape route by wall, then
go after mouse.

Mouse breaks cover and legs it along the bottom of the wall and into the
safety of the shoebox. Pick shoebox up and place outside. (Resist the
urge to check it's in there by shaking box - not good).

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / June 2005

One rodent too many